Extractor for enfield rifle firing pin assemblies



March 21, 1950 c, c, 'BEERY 2,501,373

EXTRACTOR FOR ENFIELD RIFLE FIRING PIN ASSEMBLIES Filed Ma 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mentor CUR r/s a-Btizzy /10022 Gttornegs March 21,1950 c c, BEERY I 2,501,373

EXTRACTOR FOR ENFIELD RIFLEFIRING PIN ASSEMBLIES Filed May 15, 1947' 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 E f I E 6 as a we: a 2

Zhwentor (Ittornegs Patented Mar. 21, 1950 EXTRACTOR FOR ENFIELD RIFLE FIRING PIN ASSEMBLIES CurtisC. Beery, Coulee Dani, Wash.

Application May 15, 1947; Serial No. 748,281

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in an extractor for 'Enfield rifle firing pin assemblies.

The rifie known as the Enfield and otherwise often identified as the U; S. rifle M 1917 is so constructed that it is difficult to remove the firing pin assembly from the bolt without injury to ones fingers. The firing pin assembly comprises the firing pin, a firing pin sleeve and firing pin spring. The sleeve is threaded sothat it may be screwed into the bolt sleeve. The cocking piece on the firing pin rides in a slot in the firing pin sleeve and hasits forward end extendedinto a recess in the underside of the bolt sleeve. The firing pin spring'normally holds the end of the cocking piece in the recess of the bolt sleeve. In removing the firing pin assembly from the bolt sleeve it is necessary to retract the firing pin until its cocking piece clears therecess in the bolt sleeve and to hold it retracted While the assembly is rotated to unscrew the firing pin sleeve from the bolt sleeve.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a novel clamping device for attachment to the firing pin assembly to hold the firing pin retracted while the assembly is being removed from the bolt sleeve or being placed therein. My novel clamping device may be used without any special manipulation of the gun mechanism other than cooking of the gun and withdrawing the bolt sleeve far enough to permit unscrewing of the firing pin assembly. The parts are securely held by the clamping device so that no other tool is needed to effect removal and replacement of the firing pin assembly.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its nature of operation together with its additional advantages thereof will best be understood from the'following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top view of part of the breech portion of a gun of the type mentioned, part of the receiver, which usually mounts the sight, being shown in section. The bolt is shown in closed position with the firing pin in cocked position;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken axially of the bolt showing the position of the parts when my clamp is applied;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the firing pin assembly being withdrawn from the bolt sleeve after it is unscrewed;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the rear end of 2 the bolt assembly andth'e firing-pin sleevewith the clamp attached to the head of the firing pin, the clamp being shown in section to illustrate the screw that tightensthe clamp on the head;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the clamp with part of it broken away to illustrate the means for resiliently connecting the clamp jaws and;

Figure 6 is an end view of the clamp.

In the drawings the numeral l designates the receiver part of the gun in which the-sleeve portion 2 of the bolt is mounted. The bolt sleevehas the usual operating lever- 3 thereon. The bolt sleeve 2 houses the firing pin assembly which comprises the firing pin 4, the firing pin spring 5, the firing pin head 6 and the firing pin sleeve-l. The firing pin sleeve 1 is screw threaded as indicated at 8 to thread into the end of the bolt sleeve 2. The firing pin carries as an integral part thereof a cocking piece 9. This cocking piece extends through a slot ID in the bottom of the firing pin sleeve 1 and the front tip end H of the cocking piece is adapted, in the fired position of the parts, to rest in a recess [2 that is formed in the under side of the bolt sleeve. The cocking piece also has a front shoulder I3 which is adapted to engage the and I4 of the sear. The details of the scar and trigger mechanism are not shown since they form no part of my invention. The cocking piece 9 also has a recess I 5 to receive the safety catch I6 which is actuated by the safety lever ll.

The parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2 arein the ready to fire position of the gun with-the head 6 of the firing pin projected from the sleeve 1'. According to m invention I provide a clamping device l8 which is adapted to engage the head 6 and be clamped thereon. This clamping device also is arranged to interlock with the cocking piece 9 so that it maybe used torotate the'sleeve l for removing the firing pin assembly from the bolt sleeve 2. The details of the clamping device are shown best in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6. The clamping device comprises two bars [9 and 2B which are recessed on their facing sides as indicated at 2! and 22 so as to fit around the head 6. The bars 19 and 2B are resiliently hinged together by a series of pins 23 arranged along one side edge thereof, the pins 23 being of resilient steel stock or comparable material. It will be understood, of course, that any equivalent hinged means may be used to secure the bars l9 and 253 to each other. Preferably the hinge pins 23 have their natural set such that the two bars are spread apart just enough to receive the head 6.

The bars l9 and are pressed together on the head 6 by a clamp screw 24, the bar 20 being threaded to receive the threaded portion of the clamping screw and the bar l9 having a smooth aperture to receive a cylindrical portion 26 of the clamping screw. The head 21 of the clamping screw overlaps the bar 19 around the opening for the portion 25 so as to form a bearing. The head 21 is'enlarged and knurled as shown at 28 so that it can be readily turned to securely tighten the clamp on the head of the firing pin.

The bars l9 and 20 are recessed at 29 and 30 to provide a narrow channel along the bottom edge of the clamp and adjacent to the hinge pins 23. This channel is adapted to receive the rear end 3| of the cocking piece 9 so that the clamp may he slid over the head 5 of the firing pin when the firing pin is in the cooked position.

It is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description that when the clamp I8 is applied to the firing pin the bolt maybe retracted and the firing pin sleeve may be unscrewed from the bolt sleeve by using the clamp as a means to grasp the bolt. After the firing pin assembly has been removed the clamp may be released and replaced at will by merely compressing the spring 5 enough to allow the clamp to be applied to the head 6. The clamp is a small convenient device which enables the owner of a rifle of this character to remove the firing pin assembly at any time he desires.

I am aware it has heretofore been proposed in the Orlofi Patent No. 2,373,141 to block the head of the firing pin of an Enfield rifle in a retracted position in order to enable one to remove a firing pin assembly. My improved clamp, however, eliminates the necessity of any extra tool for loosening the firing pin sleeve. According to my invention I do not have to use the safety or go through the manipulations of this prior development. The operations in removing and replacing the firing pin assembly are as follows:

To remove:

1. Set bolt in cocked position with safety oif.

2. With thumb screw at top right slip extractor over exposed end of cocking piece, exerting pressure with the right thumb over the hole in tool. This allows the spring hinge to operate and expand the tool to conform to the diameter of cocking piece.

3. Tighten screw and, with bolt in rear position, unscrew firing pin assembly.

4. While holding the point of striker against a hard surface, exert suificient pressure on sleeve to relieve the tension; loosen, screw and let the sleeve return.

To replace:

1. Hold firing pin assembly in left hand with striker point bearing on solid surface.

2. Set extractor on top of sleeve with slot lined up for cooking piece lug.

3. With thumb over hole exert sufficient pressure on sleeve to force it down until cocking piece is flush with extractor.

4. Tighten screw and replace assembly with bolt in rear position.

5. Screw assembly against sleeve, then back up until cocking piece lug is in engaging position. Close bolt and loosen screw.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for removing the firing pin assembly from the breech bolt sleeve of an Enfield rifle comprising a pair of spaced apart clamping bars, said bars being grooved on their facing sides to engage the firing pin head, and means spacing said bars apart and connecting said bars for limited swinging movement toward and away from each other, said means comprising resilient members fixed in both of the bars adjacent one edge thereof, a headed screw extending through one bar adjacent to the opposite side edge thereof and threaded into the other bar whereby to clamp the bars upon the firing pin head, said bars having recesses along their facing sides in line with but spaced from said connecting members, said recesses extending away from the members to the end edges of the bars and providing a channel to receive the cooking piece of the firing pin.

2. A tool for removing the firing pin assembly from the breech bolt sleeve of an Enfield rifle comprising a pair of spaced apart clamping bars, said bars being grooved on their facing sides to engage the firing pin head, and means spacing said bars apart and connecting said bars for limited swinging movement toward and away from each other, said means comprising resilient pins seated in both said bars along one side edge thereof and close to One corner thereof, the pins being arranged in a row and providing a resilient hinge, along a line parallel to the grooves in said bars, means on said bars on the opposite side of the grooves from said pins, operable to clamp the bars against the firin pin head, and said bars having recesses extending inward parallel to the grooves in line with the pins to receive the cooking piece on the firing pin head.

CURTIS C. BEERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,413 Broadbent Oct. 24, 1893 1,019,280 Serfoss Mar. 5, 1912 1,532,596 Madsen Apr. 7, 1925 2,373,141 Orloff Apr. 10, 1945 

